Baseball
Baseball
Phillies Bullpen Takes Another Hit with Keller’s Season-Ending Injury
Phillies Bullpen Takes Another Hit with Keller’s Season-Ending Injury
The Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen woes intensified on Thursday with the announcement that right-handed reliever Brad Keller has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow. The injury, retroactive to July 13 for his 15-day injured list placement, is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the 2026 season and potentially most of the 2027 campaign. Keller, who turns 31 soon, signed a two-year, $22 million contract this past offseason.
Keller’s significant loss comes as the Phillies’ bullpen has been a weak point in 2026, despite strong performances from All-Star closer Jhoan Duran. While Philadelphia relievers rank 21st in MLB with a 4.44 ERA, their FIP is a more encouraging eighth. Three left-handed relievers—Tanner Banks, José Alvarado, and Kyle Backhus—have particularly struggled, combining for a 6.75 ERA over 77 1/3 innings.
The setup role, largely intended for Keller, has been inconsistent. Interim manager Don Mattingly confirmed Keller is awaiting a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister regarding potential Tommy John surgery, which would further extend his absence. In a corresponding move, Seth Johnson was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
This latest setback will likely accelerate the Phillies’ efforts to acquire bullpen help before the August 3 trade deadline. Lead executive Dave Dombrowski’s shopping list, which already included a starting pitcher and a right-handed-hitting outfielder, now has an even more urgent need for relief pitching as the team pushes for a playoff spot and contends in the National League East.
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